Planning on booking an Airbnb or similar vacation spot for spring break? Not all Airbnbs treat security the same way. Depending on how the house or apartment is designed, it could be open to burglary or theft — crimes that often target vacation rentals, as this drone-targeted suspect found.
In my guide to spotting hidden Airbnb cameras, I explain that you only need your phone to find most of the warning signs. That’s true, but if you’d like to expand your Airbnb security into other areas, I have several places to start. These devices are compact, travel well and help you handle safety issues in many kinds of vacation spots.
Read more: The Most Important Security Checks to Make As You Arrive at Your Airbnb
Travel door lock
These travel locks are made to add more lock protection to basic door handles that could be forced open. This is an especially common problem in Airbnbs, where older doors aren’t up to the same standards you’d find in a resort or hotel.
Extra locks like these are affordable: You can get a pack that includes a door stop alarm for $10, or a two-pack option for $15.
Portable chargers and power packs
Yes, many Airbnbs have their own chargers for guests. But that’s not guaranteed. It’s difficult to ascertain if the charger will fit your devices, and sometimes these “free” chargers even contain malware.
So when you’re packing, take time to include necessary chargers for your phones, tablets, laptops and other devices. It’s also a good idea to include a power pack or two for emergency charging. Check out our guides and you’ll see you can find battery pack chargers for as low as $20.
A tracker for your purse, wallet or clothes
Keep track of important or valuable items by slipping a digital tracker in them before you head out on your trip. Today’s trackers can be easily set to warn you with alerts when they’re a certain distance away, so you know exactly when something was left behind or is being taken.
Apple’s AirTag, for example, is now on its second generation and now has a louder speaker. You can get one for $30. If you’d like to save money, consider this SwitchBot card tracker for $13, fit for your wallet (where I keep mine) or the pocket of a jacket.
A patio or glass door bar
Many vacation rentals have patios, balconies and other spots with sliding glass doors. If you’re worried about someone forcing those open, bring along a door bar. You can find models for only $20, making this affordable protection in the right places. Just don’t forget it when you leave.
A portable carbon monoxide detector
Not every vacation rental is guaranteed to have up-to-date, working carbon monoxide detectors. That could be a safety issue for a cozy cabin or similar location. Fortunately, you can always bring your own: This CO detector from reliable fire safety brand Kidde is portable, runs on AA batteries and only costs around $23. It sounds a siren if it detects problematic CO levels and has basic event memory to help track testing times.
A mini lock box of your own
Some Airbnbs have safes you can use, but it’s useful to have your own portable lockbox on vacation. You can use it to store small valuables you don’t currently need, from wallets and jewelry to AirPods and cash. Quality, however, is important, since many cheap lockboxes are laughably easy to break open. I’d recommend a model like this $40 mini safe from SentrySafe for extra protection.
For more tips, check out my guide on prepping a smart home for vacation and what tricks works best to stop trespassers.
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